21st Century College English: Book 2
Unit 6 : Part A
A Brief History
of Stephen Hawking
Unit 6: Part A
• Pre-reading Activities
• Intensive Study
• Exercises
• Assignment
Pre-reading Activities
• Pre-listening
• Warm-up Questions
Pre-reading Activities: Listening
First Listening: Before you listen to the tape, have a quick
look at the paragraph on p.160. It’s similar to what you’ll
hear on the tape, but there are some differences. As you listen
the first time, try to find the sections of the paragraph that
are different from what you hear on the tape. Don’t worry
about yet what the exact differences are – just underline
where they appear.
Pre-reading Activities: Listening
Second Listening: Now underline the differences.
Check-up
Pre-reading Activities: Listening
The differences you should underline are:
Stephen Hawking, the world-famous scientist and author,
lost his ability to speak in 1985. Already confined to a
wheelchair, unable to move more than a few muscles, he lost
his voice and this meant he could communicate only by
raising his eyebrows. Then an American computer
programmer came to Hawking’s rescue by designing a
vocalizing computer specially for him. With its help, Hawking
can construct sentences at a speed of about 15 words per
minute, by selecting words from his computer screen and
then clicking on a device that vocalizes the sentences for him.
Hawking jokes about the computer: “The only trouble is that
it gives me an American accent.”
Script
Pre-reading Activities: Listening
Steven Hawking, the well-known scientist and author, lost
his ability to speak in 1983. Already confined to a wheelchair,
unable to move more than a few muscles, he lost his voice and
this left him able to communicate only by raising his fingers.
Then an Australian computer programmer came to Hawking’s
rescue by designing a vocalizing computer specially for him.
With its help, Hawking can construct sentences at a speed of
about 50 words per minute, by selecting words from a
computer screen and then clicking a device that says the
sentences for him. Hawking likes the computer, saying: “The
only trouble is that it gives me an Australian accent.”
Pre-reading Activities: Warm-up Questions
What else do you know about Stephen Hawking and his
book “A Brief History of Time”?
Why is he called “the smartest man in the world”?
Intensive Study
Intensive Study
• Difficult sentences
• Key words, phrases & usages
• Comprehension exercises
Intensive Study
A Brief History of Stephen Hawking
By Michael White & John Gribbin
Intensive Study
1 He has been proclaimed “the finest mind alive”, “the greatest
genius of the late 20th century”, and “Einstein’s heir”. Known to
millions, far and wide, for his book A Brief History of Time,
Stephen Hawking is a star scientist in more ways than one. His gift
for revealing the mysteries of the universe in a style that nonscientists can enjoy made Hawking an instant celebrity and his
book a bestseller in both Britain and America. It has earned a
place in the Guinness Book of Records for spending 184 weeks in
The Sunday Times “top-ten” lists, and has sold more than five
million copies worldwide — virtually unheard-of success for a
science book.
Intensive Study
2 How did all this happen? How has a man who is almost
completely paralysed and unable to speak except through a
computer overcome these incredible obstacles and achieved far
more than most people ever dream of?
3 Stephen William Hawking was a healthy baby, born to
intellectual, eccentric parents. His father Frank, a doctor
specializing in tropical diseases, and his mother Isobel, a doctor’s
daughter, lived in a big old house full of books. Carpets and
furniture stayed in use until they fell apart; the wallpaper hung
peeling from old age. The family car was a London taxi, bought for
£50.
Intensive Study
4 Hawking has always been fascinated by his birth date:
January 8, 1942. It was the 300th anniversary of the death of
Galileo, the Italian mathematician and astronomer who
revolutionised astronomy by maintaining that the Sun is the centre
of the Solar System — not the Earth, as ancient astronomers
believed.
5 “Galileo”, says Hawking, “was the first scientist to start using
his eyes, both figuratively and literally. In a sense, he was
responsible for the age of science we now enjoy.”
Intensive Study
6 Hawking attended St. Albans School, a private school noted
for its high academic standards. He was part of a small elite group,
the brightest of the bright students. They hung around together,
listened to classical music and read only such “smart” authors as
Aldous Huxley and Hawking’s hero, Bertrand Russell, at once an
intellectual giant and liberal activist.
7 Hawking spent very little time on maths homework, yet got
full marks. A friend recalls: “While I would be struggling away with
a complicated problem, he just knew the answer. He didn’t have to
think about it.”
Intensive Study
8 This instinctive insight also impressed his teachers. One of
Hawking’s science teachers, for example, recalls the time he
posed the question: “Does a cup of hot tea reach a drinkable
temperature more quickly if you put the milk in first, or add the
milk after pouring?” While the rest of the class struggled over how
to even begin approaching the problem, Hawking almost instantly
announced the correct answer: “Add the milk after pouring, of
course.” (The hotter the tea initially, the faster it will cool.) Another
teacher relates how Hawking and his friends built a simple
computer – and this was in 1958, a time when only large research
centres had any computers at all.
Intensive Study
9
Hawking the schoolboy was a typical grind, underweight and
awkward and peering through eyeglasses. His grey uniform
always looked a mess and he spoke rather unclearly, having
inherited a slight lisp from his father. This had nothing to do with
early signs of illness; he was just that sort of kid – a figure of
classroom fun, respected by his friends, avoided by most.
Intensive Study
10 Hawking went on to study at Oxford, winning a scholarship to
read Natural Science, a course which combines mathematics,
physics and astronomy, at University College. He found much of
the work easy and averaged only one hour’s work a day. Once,
when his tutor set some physics problems from a textbook,
Hawking didn’t even bother to do them. Asked why, he spent 20
minutes pointing out errors in the book. His main enthusiasm was
the Boat Club. Many times he returned to shore with bits of the
boat knocked off, having tried to guide his crew through an
impossibly narrow gap. His rowing trainer suspects, “Half the time,
he was sitting in the stern with his head in the stars, working out
mathematical formulae.”
Intensive Study
11 Oxford has always had its share of eccentric students, so
Hawking fit right in. But then, when he was 21, he was told that he
had ALS — a progressive and incurable nerve disease. The
doctors predicted that he had only a few years to live.
12 “Before my condition was diagnosed, I was very bored with
life,” Hawking says today, speaking from his wheelchair through a
computerized voice synthesizer. The doctors’ grim prognosis
made him determined to get the most from a life he had previously
taken for granted.
Intensive Study
13 “But I didn’t die,” Hawking notes dryly. Instead, as his
physical condition worsened, Hawking’s reputation in scientific
circles grew, as if to demonstrate the theory of mind over matter.
Hawking himself acknowledges his disease as being a crucial
factor in focusing his attention on what turned out to be his real
strength: theoretical research. Hawking specializes in theoretical
cosmology, a branch of science that seeks ultimate answers to big
questions: Why has the universe happened, and what are the laws
that govern it? His main work has been on black holes and the
origin and expansion of the universe. He currently holds the
Cambridge University professorship once held by Sir Isaac
Newton.
Intensive Study
14 The smartest man in the world is not immune to the
depression that can accompany severe disabilities. But Hawking
says: “I soon realized that the rest of the world won’t want to know
you if you’re bitter or angry. You have to be positive if you’re to get
much sympathy or help.” He goes on: “Nowadays, muscle power is
obsolete. What we need is mind power — and disabled people are
as good at that as anyone else.”
He has been proclaimed “the finest mind alive” ...
alive
a.
— (predicative) having life; living
e.g.
Cf.
•living
The doctors
are trying every possible means to keep
a. (attributive)
e.g.him alive.
• It
I have
no living
in my
hometown.
is reported
thatrelatives
more than
forty
people were
burned alive in yesterday’s fire.
More to learn
He has been proclaimed “the finest mind alive” ...
Paraphrase
— He has been declared the most intelligent man who is
? living today ...
Known to millions, …
Past participial phrases can be used as adverbials.
e.g.
• Stephen Hawking is known to millions, far and wide,
for his book “A Brief History of Time”. He is a star
scientist in more ways than one.
 Known to millions, far and wide, for his book A Brief
History of Time, Stephen Hawking is a star scientist
in more ways than one.
More to do
Exercises • Structure
VIII. Rewrite the following pairs of sentences as single sentences
using past participial phrases as adverbials.
《读写教程
VIII, p.
1. The museum
was II》：Ex.
originally located
in 142
London. It was
moved to Hertfordshire in 1946.
 Originally located in London, the museum was moved to
Hertfordshire in 1946.
2. The manager was asked what his plan was for the coming
year. He promised to further develop the domestic market.
 Asked what his plan was for the coming year, the manager
promised to further develop the domestic market.
Exercises • Structure
VIII. Rewrite the following pairs of sentences as single sentences
using past participial phrases as adverbials.
3. This symphony was composed in 1878. It’s based on a
classical Chinese love story.
 Composed in 1878, this symphony is based on a classical
Chinese love story.
4. Many modern museum exhibits are designed for visitors to
touch or play with. They are at once entertaining and
educational.
 Designed for visitors to touch or play with, many modern
museum exhibits are at once entertaining and educational.
Exercises • Structure
VIII. Rewrite the following pairs of sentences as single sentences
using past participial phrases as adverbials.
5. Science is aided by technology. It helps mankind to gain
increasing control over the environment.
 Aided by technology, science helps mankind to gain
increasing control over the environment.
far and wide
— everywhere; from or over a large area
e.g.
• She looked far and wide for the missing diamond ring.
• Since he retired, he has traveled far and wide.
His gift for … and his book a bestseller in both
Britain and America.
bestseller
n.
— anything, especially a book, that has a large sale.
Translate
e.g.
• 《星际大战之三》成了2002的畅销书之一。
The writer’s first novel was a best-seller.
•KeyJohn read a best-seller while riding the bus.
“Star War III” turned out to be one of the bestsellers
in the year 2002.
More to learn
His gift for … and his book a bestseller in both Britain
and America.
— His ability to explain the complexities of the universe
in a way that the average non-professional readers
can understand and appreciate soon made him well
known and his book best-selling in both Britain and
America.
earn
vt.
— get (sth. that one deserves) because of one’s qualities;
deserve
e.g.
•Translate
She earned the promotion from a salesgirl to a sales
他已在历史上赢得了一席之地。
manager.
•KeyAfter that, Sharon earned a reputation for honesty.
He has earned his place in history.
Text-related information
Guinness Book of Records 《吉尼斯世界纪录大全》
In 1955, Norris and his twin brother
Ross edited the first Guinness Book of
World Records. The book was first
designed to record the then extremes
in, on and beyond the Earth —
notably in human performance and of
the natural world. The name
“Guinness” derives from the Guinness
Brewery in Dublin, which was Ireland’s largest
company. It is in London now. The book is now
published worldwide in 23 different languages.
Text-related information
The Sunday Times 《星期日泰晤士报》
The Sunday Times is an influential Sunday newspaper
published in London, England. It is known around the
world for the quality of its reporting and editing and
for its coverage of British politics and the arts.
The
daily
Founded in 1822 as a nationally
circulated paper with an
independent editorial policy,
Sunday Times reflects the
dignified, carefully written, and
well-edited character of its
counterpart The Times.
virtually
ad.
— almost; very nearly
Notice: You can use virtually to refer to something that
is almost or nearly true and that can be regarded as
true for most purposes.
e.g.
• It’s virtually impossible to tell the imitation from the
real thing.
• The job was virtually completed by the end of the week.
More to learn
virtually
ad.
— almost; very nearly
Cf.
virtual a.
—almost what is stated; in fact though not officially
Virtual reality is a set of images and sounds produced
by a computer which seem to represent a place or
situation in which a person experiencing it can take
part, and a virtual business is one that exists in
cyberspace.
paralyse/paralyze vt.
— make (sb. ) lose the ability to move part or all of his
body, or to feel anything in it
Notice:
e.g.
that people,
or organizations
are
• You
He can
was say
paralysed
from places
the neck
down in a road
paralysed
accident.by something when it makes them unable to
or function
properly.
• act
A stroke
paralyzed
half his face.
e.g.
Translate
电力故障使整个城市陷于瘫痪。
• The
strike paralysed the transport network.
•Key
The whole system was paralysed when the main
Electricity
failure
paralyzed the whole city.
computer
broke
down.
dream of
— wish, fantasize, imagine
You dream of doing something or of something
happening, when you very much want it to come about.
e.g.
• He dreamed of winning the world tennis
championship one day.
• Stephanie often dreams of long sea journeys.
specialize in
— concentrate one’s studies, interests, etc. on (a
particular field, etc.)
e.g.
Fill in the blank
• They
Prof.went
White
in oriental history.
to aspecializes
_____ (意大利风味餐馆)
.
• He specialized first in painting birds and later in
Keywriting about them.
restaurant that specializes in Italian food
Carpets and furniture stayed in use until they fell apart;
the wallpaper hung peeling from old age.
fall apart
— break into pieces; break up
e.g.
• My bicycle is falling apart.
• Their marriage finally fell apart.
More to learn
Carpets and furniture stayed in use until they fell apart;
the wallpaper hung peeling from old age.
Cf.
peel
vi.
—
a covering) come off in strips or small pieces
peel (ofn.
vt.
e.g.
— the
(off)outer
remove
covering
the outer
of fruits
covering
and from
vegetables
(a fruit,
• After the sunburn, my husband’s skin peeled.
vegetable, etc.)
e.g.
e.g.
• orange peel
• Mother wanted you to peel some potatoes for salad.
• onion peel
Carpets and furniture stayed in use until they fell apart;
the wallpaper hung peeling from old age. The family car
was a London taxi, bought for £50.
— Carpets and furniture would not be replaced by new
ones until they broke; the wallpaper came off and hung
for old age. The family car was a second-hand car
bought for £50 from a London taxi company.
The description of Hawking’s parents’ house suggests
their “eccentric” behaviors in other people’s eyes and,
on the other hand, their thrift in life: they would rather
bury themselves in a roomful of books than have any
comforts in their house.
Text-related information
Galileo (1564 - 1642)
Italian astronomer and physicist.
The first to use a telescope to study
the stars (1610), he was an
outspoken advocate of Copernicus’s
theory that the sun forms the center
of the universe, which led to his
persecution and imprisonment by
the Inquisition (1633).
… start using his eyes, both figuratively and literally
figuratively
ad.
— 比喻地；借喻地
When someone is speaking figuratively, he is using a
word or expression with a more abstract or imaginative
meaning than its usual one.
e.g.
• Figuratively speaking, a number of people still live in
the eighteenth century.
• When I said I killed him, I was using the word “kill”
figuratively.
More to learn
… start using his eyes, both figuratively and literally
literally ad.
ad.
2.
really
1. exactly,
according
to the most basic and simple meaning of a
e.g. word
•e.g. There are literally thousands of “interest groups” on
• the
TheInternet.
book is translated too literally.
•• Don’t
takebegged
everything
he says
I literally
him for
help.literally; he likes to
exaggerate.
More to learn
… start using his eyes, both figuratively and literally
“Figuratively” and “literally” are often used to describe
the meanings of words. In the case of “eye”, literally it
means an organ of sight, as in “He closed his left eye
and opened his right eye”, while figuratively it means
the mind’s eye or observation, as in “To her expert eye,
the painting was terrible.”
In a sense, he was responsible for the age of science we
now enjoy.
in a sense
— to a certain extent but not entirely
e.g.
• You are right in a sense, but you don’t know all the facts.
• We are, in a sense, being deceitful if we tell them so.
More to learn
In a sense, he was responsible for the age of science we
now enjoy.
be responsible for
— be the cause of
e.g.
• The bad weather was responsible for the crop failure.
• Who is responsible for the damage?
Text-related information
Aldous Huxley (1894 - 1963)
Aldous Huxley was an English novelist,
essayist, critic and poet.During the
1920s and 1930s he lived in Italy and
France, and there wrote many of his
best fictions, notably Brave New
World (1932) and Eyeless in Gaza (1936). Disillusioned
with Europe he left for California in 1937, in search of
new spiritual direction. He also wrote on science,
philosophy, and social criticism. His works, often
pessimistic, combine satire and earnestness, brutality
and humanity,and shed light on unexplored territory.
Text-related information
Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)
Bertrand Russell was a British
philosopher, mathematician, and
reformer, whose emphasis on logical
analysis influenced the course of
20th-century philosophy. He
remained constant in his admiration
of physics and his belief that science provides the best
understanding of all that exists. He was widely known to
the general public through campaigns and writings in
favor of progressive views in politics, morals, education,
and religion. Among his many books are Principles of
Mathematics (1903), The Analysis of Matter (1927),
Education and The Social Order (1930). He was awarded
the Noble Prize for Literature in 1950.
at once an intellectual giant and liberal activist
at once
— at the same time
e.g.
• All three boys spoke at once.
• The book is at once instructive and amusing.
• When there’s more than one conversation going on at
once, you can’t hear anything.
More to learn
at once an intellectual giant and liberal activist
intellectual
a.
An
is one who has developed his
Cf. intellectual
intelligent person
a.
—
having
orisshowing
power
of theand
mind;
needing
or in
brain
and
highly
educated,
is
interested
— having or showing understanding; able to learn and
using power of the mind
subjects
know that exercise the mind, while an intelligent
person has the power of learning or understanding but
e.g.
e.g.
may not know much.
•• He’s
quite
but animals.
he’s not what you should
Dolphins
arebright
intelligent
describe as intellectual.
• Scientists believe that there are intelligent life existing
• Thinking
is solar
an intellectual
beyond our
system. process.
struggle away with
— try very hard to do (sth., though it is very hard)
e.g.
• He struggled away with calculus but eventually
understood it.
• For years, the scientist struggled away with the
establishment to get his theories accepted.
More to learn
away
ad.
— all the time; continuously
e.g.
• She worked away at her job.
• The young people chatted away like old friends.
Hawking the schoolboy was ...
— As a schoolboy Hawking was ...
“Hawking the schoolboy”, the reverse of the more
common form, the schoolboy Hawking, is a case of
restrictive apposition of noun phrases. The appositive
preceded by “the” is a general word restricted in
meaning by the proper name.
e.g.
• Robinson the singer (= the singer Robinson)
• Paul Jones the critic (= the critic Paul Jones)
More to learn
Hawking the schoolboy was ...
— As a schoolboy Hawking was ...
A noun or a noun phrase can be added to another noun
or pronoun as further explanation, or modifier, which is
called apposition. An appositive is usually placed after
the preceding noun, but sometimes in front of a noun or
a pronoun for emphasis.
e.g.
• A public figure, the actress’s private life is always the
talk of the town.
• I was even more alarmed when I saw who stepped from
the car: the wife of Sir John Lavery, the celebrated
painter who lived nearby.
More to do
Exercises • Structure
VIII. Rewrite the following sentences.
1. Stephen Hawking is a star scientist in more ways than one.
He has achieved far more than most people ever dream of.
《读写教程 II》：Ex. VIII, p. 142
 A star scientist in more ways than one, Stephen Hawking
has achieved far more than most people ever dream of.
2. Galileo was an Italian mathematician and astronomer. He
was the first scientist to start using his eyes, both literally
and figuratively.
 An Italian mathematician and astronomer, Galileo was the
first scientist to start using his eyes, both literally and
figuratively.
Exercises • Structure
VIII. Rewrite the following sentences.
3. Hawking was a figure of classroom fun. He spoke with a
slight lisp inherited from his father.
 A figure of classroom fun, Hawking spoke with a slight
lisp inherited from his father.
4. The Poetry Society is a group of some forty students. It
holds regular meetings where the members recite their
poems.
 A group of some forty students, the Poetry Society holds
regular meetings where the members recite their poems.
Exercises • Structure
VIII. Rewrite the following sentences.
5. Beijing is a fascinating combination of ancient and modern
China. It attracts huge numbers of tourists from around
the world every year.
 A fascinating combination of ancient and modern China,
Beijing attracts huge numbers of tourists from around the
world every year.
have something/nothing/anything/a lot/a little to do
with
— have some/ no/ any/ a lot/ a little relation or
connection with
e.g.
Translate
• His
job has nothing to do with telephones.
听仔细了，我说的和你有很大关系。
•KeyAbstract art has little to do with everyday experience.
Listen carefully, what I have said has a lot to do with you.
bother to do sth.
— trouble oneself to do sth.
Ife.g.
you do not bother to do something (usu. with a
negative),
youyou
do not
do to
it because
would
too to
• How are
going
learn if ityou
don’ttake
bother
much
effort, or because it is unnecessary.
listen?
• Unfortunately he didn’t bother to check the exact
wording of the contract before he signed it.
knock off
— cause (sth.) to fall from a place
e.g.
• Just when I had put the glass safely down on the table,
the cat jumped up and knocked it off.
• A snowball knocked his hat off.
• The blow knocked him off his feet.
… with his head in the stars, working out
mathematical formulae
work out
— find an answer to (sth.); solve (sth.)
e.g.
Translation
• 我们一直期望能找到一个和平的方案来解决冲突。
Can you work out this math problem for me?
• No one can work out how the fire started.
Key
We are always hoping that a peaceful solution
can be worked out to solve the conflict.
More to learn
… with his head in the stars, working out
mathematical formulae
— with his thoughts far, far away thinking about
solutions to mathematical problems
Oxford has always had its share of eccentric students,
so Hawking fit right in.
have one’s share of sth.
— have part of sth.; have the amount that is fair for sb.
e.g.
• I’ve certainly had my share of problems.
• You’ve had more than your share of that ice cream.
More to learn
Oxford has always had its share of eccentric students,
so Hawking fit right in.
fit in
— be (precisely) suitable (to)
e.g.
• It’s no surprise she is leaving the course — she never
really fits in.
• They are looking for someone young to join the team,
someone who fits in.
More to learn
Oxford has always had its share of eccentric students,
so Hawking fit right in.
Paraphrase
— Just like many other universities, Oxford also has
? had some smart students who behaved in a strange
way, so Hawking felt as if he belonged exactly to
them.
Text-related information
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
It’s also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease is a
progressive, fatal disease of the motor neurons (nerve
cells) that control the skeletal muscles of the body.
The disease characteristically produces a wasting
away of the muscles that have lost their nerve supply,
resulting in weakening and paralysis. There are also
signs of spasticity, or stiffness, of the muscles and
exaggerated reflexes. Eventually, ALS results in total
paralysis and respiratory failure. The senses and
intellect are not affected.
take (sth.) for granted
— be so familiar with (sth.) that one no longer
appreciates its full value; treat (sth.) as unimportant
e.g.
Translation
• 不要把一切都看成是想当然。
He just takes it for granted that the house is tidy.
• Most young people take the washing machine for
Key
granted because they’ve never lived without it.
Don’t take everything for granted.
mind over matter
— (sometimes humor) control of events or material
objects by the power of the mind
e.g.
• My grandfather firmly believed that he had cured his
own cancer through mind over matter.
• Keeping to a strict diet is a question of mind over
matter.
turn out to be
— happen to be in the end
e.g.
• That guy we met the other day turned out to be Andy’s
second cousin.
• His statement turned out to be false.
Text-related information
Black Hole
Black hole is a cosmic body of
extremely intense gravity from which
nothing, not even light, can escape. A
black hole can be formed by the death
of a massive star. When such a star has exhausted its internal
thermonuclear fuels at the end of its life, it becomes unstable
and gravitationally collapses inward upon itself.
The existence of another kind of nonstellar black hole has been
proposed by the British astrophysicist Stephen Hawking.
According to Hawking’s theory, numerous tiny black holes
might have been created during the big bang, a state of
extremely high temperatures and density in which the universe
is thought to have originated roughly 10 billion years ago.
Text-related information
Sir Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton, English mathematician and physicist,
considered one of the greatest scientists in history, made
important contributions to many fields of science. His
discoveries and theories laid the foundation for much of
the progress in science since his time. Newton was one of
the inventors of the branch of
mathematics called calculus. He
also solved the mysteries of light
and optics, formulated the three
laws of motion, and derived from
them the law of universal
gravitation.
be immune to
— not responsive to or affected by (diseases, criticism,
bad treatment, etc.)
e.g.
• They’re always so rude that I’ve already become
immune to it.
• My uncle seems to be immune to colds — he just
never gets them.
Exercises
•
Comprehension
Ex. II
•
Vocabulary
Ex. III ~ VII
•
Listening & Discussion
Part 3.3
Comprehension
II. Answer the following questions.
《读写教程II》：Ex.
1. Why do the
authors call HawkingII,
“a p.
star140
scientist in
more ways than one”?
Key: Because he is a star in the sense of celebrity and in
the sense of that his expertise is related to astronomy.
Relevant to: Para. 1
Comprehension
II. Answer the following questions.
2. In what way is Hawking disabled?
Key: He is paralysed except for a few muscles, and he lost
his ability to use his voice.
Relevant to: Para. 2
Comprehension
II. Answer the following questions.
3. Why do the authors mention the Hawking family’s
carpets, wallpaper and car?
Key: These are the examples of the family’s eccentricity.
Relevant to: Para. 3
Comprehension
II. Answer the following questions.
4. What does Hawking mean by saying that “Galileo was the
first scientist to start using his eyes, both figuratively and
literally”?
Key: He means that he regards Galileo as the first
scientist to closely observe the world and to base his ideas
about science on observation.
Relevant to: Para. 5
Comprehension
II. Answer the following questions.
5. What sort of student was Hawking as a schoolboy?
Key: He was very gifted without having to work hard,
and he hung around with an “elite group” of intelligent
students.
Relevant to: Para. 5.6.7
Comprehension
II. Answer the following questions.
6. Why do the authors mention Hawking’s quick answer to
the question about cooling tea?
Key: It seems to be meant as an example of his quick and
insightful mind – but to me it sounds as if Hawking just
happened to know the answer to this particular “puzzle”
(so do I, now!).
Relevant to: Para. 8
Comprehension
II. Answer the following questions.
7. What made him “a figure of fun”?
Key: His physical awkwardness, his messy uniform and
his speech impediment.
Relevant to: Para. 9
Comprehension
II. Answer the following questions.
8. Why do the authors mention Hawking’s poor boating
skills?
Key: It’s an example of Hawking’s eccentricity.
Relevant to: Para. 10
Comprehension
II. Answer the following questions.
9. How did the diagnosis of ALS affect Hawking’s feelings
about life?
Key: He gained appreciation for and interest in life.
Relevant to: Para. 11
Comprehension
II. Answer the following questions.
10. What do the authors mean by saying that Hawking’s
growing reputation was like a demonstration of “the
theory of mind over matter”?
Key: They mean that it seemed to show how
determination and ambition can help people overcome
seemingly impossible obstacles (i.e. Hawking’s severe
disabilities).
Relevant to: Para. 13
Comprehension
II. Answer the following questions.
11. How did his disease contribute to his career?
Key: It helped him focus on what his real gift was:
theoretical research.
Relevant to: Para. 13
Comprehension
II. Answer the following questions.
12. What does Hawking mean when he says “muscle power
is obsolete”?
Key: He means that civilization has evolved to the point
that physical disabilities like his don’t mean a person can’t
make a meaningful contribution to society.
Relevant to: Para. 14
Exercises
•
Vocabulary
Ex. III
Ex. IV
Ex. V
•
Word Building
Ex. VI
Ex. VII
Vocabulary
III. Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form
where necessary.
proclaim
obstacle
paralyse《读写教程
insight
eccentric
inherit
pose
II》：Ex.
p. 140 predict
initially III, gap
1. Stephen Hawking soon proved himself to be a scientist
of great _____ and creativity.
 insight
2. Fear of making mistakes is one of the main _____ to
mastering spoken English.
 obstacles
Vocabulary
III. Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form
where necessary.
proclaim
obstacle
eccentric
inherit
pose
paralyse
insight
initially
gap
predict
3. The disease affected his muscles and nervous system
and gradually _____ him.
 paralysed
4. Cloning, a technological breakthrough, _____ some
serious ethical (伦理的) problems.
 poses
Vocabulary
III. Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form
where necessary.
proclaim
obstacle
eccentric
inherit
pose
paralyse
insight
initially
gap
predict
5. This book has been _____ a modern masterpiece.
 proclaimed
6. The storms are _____ to reach the North of the country
tomorrow morning.
 predicted
Vocabulary
III. Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form
where necessary.
7.
proclaim
obstacle
eccentric
inherit
pose
paralyse
insight
initially
gap
predict
_____, his theories created a lot of controversy in
scientific circles, but now they’re widely accepted.
 Initially
8. The old man lives alone and is rarely visited by his
neighbors, who consider him _____.
 eccentric
Vocabulary
III. Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form
where necessary.
proclaim
obstacle
eccentric
inherit
pose
paralyse
insight
initially
gap
predict
9. The government must take some measures to narrow
the _____ between the rich and the poor.
 gap
10. Although he knew he would _____ a great fortune from
his father, Richard was determined to earn his own
living.
 inherit
Vocabulary
IV. Rescue these notes!
This time our underachieving student has made some
notes about Text A, but they’re full of words that are
《读写教程 II》：Ex. IV, p. 171
the opposite of what they should be! Replace the
underlined words with their opposites from the text,
and then rewrite the notes as complete sentences.
Vocabulary
IV. Rescue these notes!
1. Hawking / proclaimed / an underachiever / Einstein’s
ancestor
a genius
heir
Rewrite:
Hawking has been proclaimed a genius and Einstein’s heir.
Vocabulary
IV. Rescue these notes!
2. Father / doctor generalizing / polar diseases
specialize in
tropical
Rewrite:
His father was a doctor specializing in tropical diseases.
Vocabulary
IV. Rescue these notes!
3. Modern astronomers maintained / Earth / centre /
Lunar
(月球的) System
ancient
solar
Rewrite:
Ancient astronomers maintained that the Earth was the
centre of the Solar System.
Vocabulary
IV. Rescue these notes!
4. Hawking / part / ordinary group / bright students /
popular music
elite
classical
Rewrite:
Hawking was part of an elite group of bright students who
listened to classical music.
Vocabulary
IV. Rescue these notes!
5. He ignores his disease / crucial factor / attention on
practical research.
acknowledge
theoretical
Rewrite:
He acknowledges that his disease was a crucial factor in
focusing his attention on theoretical research.
Vocabulary
V. Rewrite the sentences below using phrases based on the words
in parentheses. Be sure to make any other necessary changes
as well.
《读写教程 II 》：Ex. V, p. 141
1. Big industries that are the source of a lot of pollution pay
special taxes that finance environmental clean-up projects.
(responsible)
Big industries that are responsible for a lot of pollution pay
special taxes that finance environmental clean-up projects.
Vocabulary
V. Rewrite the sentences below using phrases based on the words
in parentheses. Be sure to make any other necessary changes
as well.
2. We bought these chairs only last year and they’re
collapsing already. (fall)
We bought these chairs only last year and they’re falling
apart already.
Vocabulary
V. Rewrite the sentences below using phrases based on the words
in parentheses. Be sure to make any other necessary changes
as well.
3. Each of us has to solve the problems posed by life in our
own way. (work)
Each of us has to work out the problems posed by life
in our own way.
Vocabulary
V. Rewrite the sentences below using phrases based on the words
in parentheses. Be sure to make any other necessary changes
as well.
4. Haven’t your parents ever said anything about your
spending time in the company of such eccentric things.
(hang)
Haven’t your parents ever said anything about
your hanging around with such eccentric things.
Vocabulary
V. Rewrite the sentences below using phrases based on the words
in parentheses. Be sure to make any other necessary changes
as well.
5. Just as Jane put the glass on the table, the cat jumped up
and caused it to fall. (knock)
Just as Jane put the glass on the table, the cat jumped up
and knocked it off.
Vocabulary
V. Rewrite the sentences below using phrases based on the words
in parentheses. Be sure to make any other necessary changes
as well.
6. Fascinated by the stars and planets, the boy wished to
become a professional astronomer someday. (dream)
Fascinated by the stars and planets, the boy dreamed of
becoming a professional astronomer someday.
Vocabulary
V. Rewrite the sentences below using phrases based on the words
in parentheses. Be sure to make any other necessary changes
as well.
7. Many educators say that an ability to perform well on
tests is completely unrelated to true intelligence. (nothing)
Many educators say that an ability to perform well on tests
has nothing to do with true intelligence.
Vocabulary
V. Rewrite the sentences below using phrases based on the words
in parentheses. Be sure to make any other necessary changes
as well.
8. Alfred was a great philosopher and a talented musician
as well. (once)
Alfred was at once a great philosopher and a talented
musician as well.
Vocabulary
V. Rewrite the sentences below using phrases based on the words
in parentheses. Be sure to make any other necessary changes
as well.
9. Plenty of people who had trouble in school later proved to
be creative geniuses. (turn)
Plenty of people who had trouble in school later turned out
to be creative geniuses.
Vocabulary
V. Rewrite the sentences below using phrases based on the words
in parentheses. Be sure to make any other necessary changes
as well.
10. Of course you have trouble learning if you never take the
trouble to look up new words in the dictionary. (bother)
Of course you have trouble learning if you never bother to
look up new words in the dictionary.
Word Building
VI. Complete the following table and translate the newlyformed words into Chinese.
《读写教程 II》：Ex. VI, p. 141
Word Building
n. (subject)
physics
1. anthropology
archaeology
astronomy
biology
5. chemistry
7. cosmology
mathematics
philosophy
13. psychology
sociology
a.
physical
Anthropological
Archaeological
Astronomical
4. biological
Chemical
Cosmological
9. mathematical
11. philosophical
14. psychological
15. sociological
n. (person)
physicist
anthropologist
2. archaeologist
3. astronomer
biologist
6. chemist
8. cosmologist
10. mathematician
12. philosopher
psychologist
16. sociologist
Vocabulary
VII. The prefix tele- is added to some nouns with the
meaning of over a long distance. Fill in the words that
are defined for you, or complete the definitions of the
words that are given to you.
Models:
telescope:
《读写教程 II》：Ex. VII, p. 142
an instrument used for making distant things
appear larger and nearer
telephone:
an instrument used for sending sounds over a
long distance by electrical means.
Vocabulary
VII. The prefix tele- is added to some nouns with the
meaning of over a long distance. Fill in the words that
are defined for you, or complete the definitions of the
words that are given to you.
telegram
1. •____________:
a message sent over a long distance by
using electrical or radio signals.
television
2. •____________:
a message sent over a long distance by
using electrical or radio signals.
Vocabulary
VII. The prefix tele- is added to some nouns with the
meaning of over a long distance. Fill in the words that
are defined for you, or complete the definitions of the
words that are given to you.
3. telecommunications:
the science and technology of
____ by using electronic equipment.
• communicating over long distances
Vocabulary
VII. The prefix tele- is added to some nouns with the
meaning of over a long distance. Fill in the words that
are defined for you, or complete the definitions of the
words that are given to you.
4. telemedicine:
the science that makes it possible to _____
through computer networks
• treat a patient a long distance away or provide medical
treatment from a distance
Vocabulary
VII. The prefix tele- is added to some nouns with the
meaning of over a long distance. Fill in the words that
are defined for you, or complete the definitions of the
words that are given to you.
5. teletext: a service providing _____ on customers’ television
screens
• information in the form of text
Listening & Speaking
Directions: Listen carefully to the following text-related
passage and fill in the blanks with missing
information.
《听说教程 II》：Part 3.3, p. 86
Check-up
Listening & Speaking
Announcer: Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and
welcome to “Just Numbers”, our weekly
collection of odd facts. Our question for
tonight is: What does “the man on the street”
really think of science and scientists? In order
to find out, New Scientist magazine conducted
a survey of 1,901 average British citizens,
asking for their views on various aspects of
science and technology. The results of the
survey were fascinating — and at times
alarming.
Listening & Speaking
The first question in the survey was; What do you consider
the greatest scientific achievement since World War II? The
don’t know
most frequent response — 36% — was (1) “_____________”.
(2)
Space
exploration came in a poor second, at (3) ____%,
17
_______________
and (4)
Computers
9
__________ were in third place, with a stunning (5) _____%.
The next question New Scientist posed in its survey was:
Name three famous scientists, living or dead. And who do you
think turned out to be the most famous and popular scientist of
all time, mentioned by a full 47% of the respondents to the
Albert Einstein No — he came in second, with (7)
survey? (6) ______________?
28
Sir Isaac Newton
_____%.
(8) ________________?
He was third — only (9)
13
Newton First place went
_______%
of the public named (10) _________.
Don’t know
to — have you guessed? — (11) “_____________”.
Listening & Speaking
Although the public is clearly not very impressed with
individual scientists and specific scientific achievements, we’re
glad to report that the survey did reveal a few positive opinions
11
about science. Only (12) _____%
of the people questioned said
that they feel science does more harm than good. And a full (13)
19
_____%
proclaimed that they have “a great deal of confidence”
in science and the scientific community.
If any scientists are listening, don’t worry. The survey
provided some insight into how to improve science’s public
image. The statistics showed that in general, people who have
studied more science in school are stronger supporters of
science. So as usual, education seems to be the key to popularity.
That’s it for tonight, ladies and gentlemen — and thanks for
listening to “Just Numbers”.
Script
Listening & Speaking: Script
Although the public is clearly not very impressed with
The
first question
in the
What achievements,
do you consider
the
individual
scientists
andsurvey
specificwas:
scientific
we’re
greatest
scientific
since
World
War
II? The
most
Announcer:
glad to report
thatachievement
the survey did
reveal
a few
positive
opinions
frequent
response
—
36%
—
was questioned
“don’t know”.
Space
about
science.
Only
11%
of
the
people
said
that
they
Good
evening
ladies
and
gentlemen,
and
welcome
to
“Just
exploration
came
inmore
a poor
second,
atgood.
47%,And
and acomputers
feel
science
does
harm
than
full 19%
Numbers”,
our
weekly
collection
of
odd
facts.
Our
question
for
were
in
third
place,
with
a
stunning
9%.
proclaimed
that does
they “the
haveman
“a on
great
of really
confidence”
in
tonight
is: What
the deal
street”
think of
science
the
scientific
community.
The
nextand
question
New Scientist
posed
in itsout,
survey
was:
Name
science
and
scientists?
In
order
to find
New
Scientist
three
famous
scientists,
living
or 1,901
dead.
Andworry.
who
doThe
you
think
magazine
conducted
a survey
of
average
British
citizens,
If any
scientists
are
listening
，
don’t
survey
turned
out
totheir
beinsight
the
most
andimprove
popularof
scientist
ofand
all
asking
forsome
views
onfamous
various
aspects
sciencepublic
provided
into
how to
science’s
time,
mentioned
by a full
of the
respondents
to the
survey.
technology.
results
of 47%
the survey
fascinating
—
and
at
image.
TheThe
statistics
showed
that
inwere
general,
people
who
have
Albert
Einstein?
No — he
second,
with 28%.
Sir Isaac
times
rather
alarming.
studied
more
science
in came
schoolin are
stronger
supporters
of
Newton?
— only
13%
ofthe
thekey
public
named
science. SoHe
as was
usual,third
education
seems
to be
to popularity.
Newton. First place went to — have you guessed? — “Don’t
That’s it for tonight, ladies and gentlemen — and thanks for
know”.
listening to “Just Numbers”.
Assignment
1. Revision of Text A:
•
Translation Ex. XI
p.143
•
Cloze
p.143
Ex. XII
2. Preview of Text B:
•
Ex. XV
p. 146